Disabled facilities grants
Sometimes our circumstances change, and the homes we love can become harder to live in. We offer grants to help people move more freely in and around their homes and to access essential facilities with greater ease.
Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) can help cover the cost of important home adaptations, such as:
- Stairlifts
- Level-access showers
- Ramps
To apply for a grant, an assessment is needed. This will usually be carried out by an occupational therapist, though in some cases our qualified trusted assessor may complete the visit instead.
What can the grant be used for?
A grant may help to fund:
- Widening doorways, installing ramps, or lowering thresholds to improve access
- Fitting a stairlift, handrails, or similar equipment
- Installing adapted bathrooms or kitchens
- Upgrading your home’s heating system
Can you apply?
Find out who can apply for a disabled facilities grant and how much you could get.
HASE Occupational Therapy (Housing, Adaptations and Specialist Equipment)
The service is run by occupational therapists and support staff for people in Worcestershire who are living with disabilities to stay in their own home with improved quality of life.
Anyone can refer to us by contacting the Single Point of Access on 0300 123 7593. You will be asked to provide basic information, this will be assessed by clinical staff who will refer you to the appropriate service.
Minor Housing Adaptations
Various adaptations can be made to your home which can support you to continue living independently. Examples include,
- Grab rails around the bath, shower, toilet or elsewhere
- Additional handrails for the stairs
- Small steps outside external doors.
These adaptations are usually low cost and can be installed relatively quickly by a friend or relative or a local handyman. To find local companies that could help with adaptions to your home visit Worcestershire County Council’s Community Services Directory
If you are not sure what adaptations you need, Worcestershire County Council may be able to help. Visit eligibility and assessments.
You may benefit from an assessment undertaken by an Occupational Therapist (OT). In Worcestershire OT services related to housing are provided by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust. For more information visit Occupational Therapy
The OT may make a referral for the adaptation to your home to be paid for and completed by Worcestershire County Council’s Minor Adaptations Service. This service is provided on behalf of the County Council by Age UK Wyvern. More information about Age UK Wyvern’s services can be found here Our Services | Age UK Wyvern
Worcestershire Community Equipment Service
The Worcestershire Community Equipment Service (WCES) loans equipment to support individuals to get home from hospital quickly, rehabilitate once home from hospital, stay home and avoid hospital admission, and increase their function and independence to live well whilst they are at home. When equipment is no longer required it is collected and re-used wherever possible.
Referrals to the service are made by Occupational Therapists (OTs), Physiotherapists and other health and social care professionals.
WCES is provided by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust on behalf of Worcestershire County Council and NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire (The NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB)). More information about WCES can be found here Our services | Integrated Community Equipment Service | Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust
